Access to clean drinking water is difficult, especially with a huge population. However, with budget-friendly technology, many have access to a water purifier today. According to a report by the National Statistical Office, one in four urban households has installed water purifiers. 

Many of us have been guilty of using a water purifier without regular servicing for a long time. A busy schedule doesn’t help. The right water purifier is key to ensuring you are drinking clean water.

However, just investing in one is not enough. If you already purchased one, you need to dig into the water you are consuming. Further, you must research what kind of testing is done for water purifiers. Let us learn about the factors to keep in mind before zeroing in on a water purifier. 

Types of Water purifiers 

Electric and non-electric water purifiers differ not only in the usage of electricity but also in the method of water purification. Let us find out which would be suitable for you.

Electric Water Purifier 

An electric purifier is a water purifier with electricity such as RO (reverse osmosis) and uses pressured water passed through the RO membrane. Another example is the UV water purifier. It utilises UV rays to kill microorganisms.

There are further of two types-

• The RO water purifier removes dissolved solids (TDS) and converts hard water to soft water. 
• On the other hand, UV-based water purifier kills microorganisms.
• An RO + UV water purifier removes contaminants and TDS from the water, making it softer than just RO alone. 

Non-electric water purifier

A non-electric variant is a water purifier without electricity that uses a sediment filter, activated carbon, and UF to collect sediment material and microorganisms. These purifiers work on the principle of gravity or water pressure. The pull acts as a source of power to purify the water. Non-electric water purifiers are of three varieties – 

• The sediment filter removes sediments and thick materials that settle at the bottom of the water container. 
• An activated carbon water purifier removes chlorine, various contaminants and even pesticides. This enhances water taste and odour. However, activated carbon is unable to remove dissolved solids. 
• The UF water purifier also does not remove dissolved solids. Hence, hard water is not converted to soft water. Sometimes, the water can also taste salty because of the solid particles.

How do I test my water purifier at home? 

Using a water purifier is one thing, but are you sure the water you consume is harmless? With time, water purifiers can accumulate dirt and become inefficient in drawing out impurities. You might be drinking something worse than tap water.

Follow these testing criteria to ensure you and your family are ingesting safe water.

Check the water quality

Do you test the RO water before drinking? Make sure to check taste of water in purifier consciously. If your water purifier is not working properly, it will taste weird. Moreover, check for the water colour. 

Contaminated water will be turbid if there is excess contamination. This means that the filter is not doing its job. 

An RO water purifier filters out TDS impurities like fluoride, lead, and other toxic particles. The remaining water is left with the necessary minerals. However, turbid water contains these TDS articles. So, check if your water purifier converts hard water to soft water. 

If your water does not taste or look what it usually does, it's time to ring your service provider.

Check TDS levels

TDS level is the amount of total dissolved solids present in water. TDS in drinking water occurs due to chemical fertilisers, sewage, dirty pipelines, etc. Generally, normal TDS for water is between 50-150 and is considered suitable and safe for human consumption. 

However, if the TDS level is about 1000 PPM, do not ingest it at any cost. It's time that you replace or invest in a water purifier today itself.

Pay Attention to the pre-filter and regular filter

Pre-filters trap the larger particles and heavy sediment before passing through the reverse osmosis filter. These filters ensure longevity. 

Further, any water purifier has two filters – 

• Sediment filter - This filter helps strain out silt and sediment
• Carbon filter – This filter removes chlorine and other dangerous contaminants that affect the life and performance of the RO membrane. 

Make sure to replace your filters every three to six months to reduce the chances of getting sick.

Check RO Membrane to see whether the water purifier is working

The latest water purifier technology involves Reverse Osmosis Semi-Permeable Membranes. It is a multi-step purification process where the membrane filters out contaminants and keeps the minerals behind. 

Make sure to replace this membrane at regular intervals for optimum benefits. If you use the purifier heavily, you will have to replace it frequently.  

Be wary of Leakages

It is not uncommon for water purifiers to leak or get blockages. Sometimes, harsh external conditions or extreme pressure inside the purifier can leak. If you notice water dripping out of the purifier, there could be an ill-fitted part that needs replacement.

A Leakage can expose a part of the water purifier leading to improper functioning. This can lead to contamination of your drinking water supply, defeating the purpose of a water purifier.  

Say yes to regular servicing

Like your car, your water purifier needs technical pampering from time to time. Usually, water purifiers have a long shelf life, but if you forget to keep a tab on their working, you will get sick and have to shell out chunks of money.

There is nothing more crucial than your health. Regular servicing will help restore your purifier if you find anything fishy. Service providers will either clean or replace certain parts depending on the situation. 

Wrapping Up

Water, the scarcest source of life, is hard to find without contaminants. Dirty or non-consumable water is not visible to the naked eye. To ensure your family's safety, you must invest in regular servicing. You can contact Livpure online for the same.

To start, you can buy a mini RO water purifier. Further, if you do not have a regular water or electricity supply, go for non-electric water purifiers. Remember to keep an eye on your water purifier by following the above tips or connecting with a trusted service provider. You will thank yourself for a longer and healthier life!